Orange Coast College

Men's Basketball: Coast to host L.A. Southwest in playoff opener

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

COSTA MESA - The Commission on Athletics announced the men's basketball playoff brackets and for the Orange Coast College men's basketball team, it's home sweet home in the first round.

Following their 16-14 record, courtesy of a season-finale win against Riverside and a forfeited win by Saddleback, the Pirates have earned the 15th seed in the 20-team tournament and will host No. 18 L.A. Southwest on Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m. The first 12 seeds earned first-round byes.

The Cougars (17-13) finished the regular season tied for second in the South Coast Conference's South Division, behind Long Beach City College. They are led by 6-foot-1 freshman guard Chris Smith, who averaged 26.1 points per game, second-best in the state behind Mt. San Antonio's Rishawn Norwood (26.8 ppg).

The winner of Wednesday's game will play at Ventura on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m.